| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
11-26-2009, 08:14 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Canada, Québec
Posts: 17
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confused about what amp to buy, w/ tube or solid state w/ K702
Hi all,
This is my first post here in this forum, but read a lot of your reviews and posts, but it's time to me to post by my own.
I'm a little bit confused about my purchase. I want to buy a good set of Headphone with a good amp, but i have to respect my budget.
The problem is... i come from Canada, Quebec and here in Qubec City(that explain my poor english, sry), we don't really have good stores to listen this kind of stuff, except one but he just sale grado, not that is bad but i can't compare with the other brand.
So, in the head-fi forum i heard good things on the AKG K702 and grado sr325i....i'm really open here for others....
Here is how i will use my amp and phone:
1)mainly listen to jazz(miles davis, coltrane, scofield, Herbie Hancock), blues, bob Dylan, Dave Matthews band, BenHarper, Tom waits....
2)no ipod, just for home use, on my new couch.....
3)My amp must be able to drive really well the K702 phone, if i buy this one,
but the grado sr325 too and maybe th HD600...
4)My budget is between 600$ to 700$, max 800$ for both the amp and phone
What is the best amp, with tubes or solid state?
Do i need a DAC?
Thank you
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11-26-2009, 08:26 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Canada, Québec
Posts: 17
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And oh yeah........my CD player is a marantz CD5003 and my receiver marantz SR5002...i don't know if this help ! !
I don't know why, but i have a preference for a ss amp....propably because it's less maintenance....am i right ?
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11-26-2009, 08:43 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Philly
Posts: 887
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I am also thinking of the same thing. And here are the two amps I am deciding on. The Headamp Gilmore Lite and the Musical Fidelity X-Can v8.
The Gilmore Lite is a SS amp and is supposed to be very neutral and revealing while the X-Can is a hybrid tube amp that is supposed to have some added warmth. Both seem to be excellent and would seem to be a matter of personal preference than a choice of which is better than the other.
I'm now leaning toward the Gilmore Lite as I am a detail freak. It's one of the reasons I enjoy the 701 so much. Since I will later add the Wadia iTransport, I am looking to add the Dacmagic. But for you, I don't think you'll need a DAC.
Ross
__________________
Main: Gateway > DacMagic > Gilmore Lite > K-701, HF-2, HD650
Bedside: Gateway > iBasso D2+ Boa > Headroom Micro Amp > K-701, HF-2, HD650
Portable: iPod 160 Classic > Nuforce Icon Mobile > AHD1001, RE0, TripleFi 10 (ordered)
Past stuff: SE530, K-701, SR-325is, SR-225, SR-125 (given to brother), SR-80, RE2, PortaPro, Total Airhead, HeadAmp AE-1, iPod G5 30g
My Feedback
My reviews: Gilmore Lite vs Headroom Micro Amp | Grado HF-2| Grado SR-225 vs Grado SR-80| Headroom Total Airhead| Shure SE530 vs Grado 225| 701 v 225 v 530| Head Direct RE2 & Koss PortaPro|
HeadRoom Micro Amp
"The lunatic is in my head" - Pink Floyd.
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11-26-2009, 08:44 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Philly
Posts: 887
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Oh yeah, welcome to Head-Fi!
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Main: Gateway > DacMagic > Gilmore Lite > K-701, HF-2, HD650
Bedside: Gateway > iBasso D2+ Boa > Headroom Micro Amp > K-701, HF-2, HD650
Portable: iPod 160 Classic > Nuforce Icon Mobile > AHD1001, RE0, TripleFi 10 (ordered)
Past stuff: SE530, K-701, SR-325is, SR-225, SR-125 (given to brother), SR-80, RE2, PortaPro, Total Airhead, HeadAmp AE-1, iPod G5 30g
My Feedback
My reviews: Gilmore Lite vs Headroom Micro Amp | Grado HF-2| Grado SR-225 vs Grado SR-80| Headroom Total Airhead| Shure SE530 vs Grado 225| 701 v 225 v 530| Head Direct RE2 & Koss PortaPro|
HeadRoom Micro Amp
"The lunatic is in my head" - Pink Floyd.
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11-26-2009, 09:22 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 774
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with K701/2 the current demand is too high for all but the most expensive OTL tube amps, and good output xmfrs cost a lot too so a really adequate tube amp for these cans is going to cost
it is possible to get adequate I,V drive at relatively low cost with solid state - but avoid single 9V battery, unbufferd op amp cheapies
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11-26-2009, 09:56 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 644
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How much is the K701 going to cost you?
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My feedback: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f12/p4z-445977/
"Redundancy is redundant."
Home rig:
foobar2000->ASIO4ALL->onboard TOSlink->Cambridge Audio DACmagic->Little Dot MK VII->DHC cable->Sennheiser HD650
Portable rig:
Teclast T51->Sony MDR-XB700/Sennheiser HD650
Quote:
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Originally Posted by FLACvest
I ate aa whole can of dried beef that I may barf out
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11-26-2009, 09:58 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Poland, EU
Posts: 226
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NightTrane
What is the best amp, with tubes or solid state?
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Heed CanAmp pairs with K701/2 very well. Should be within your budget.
Cheers,
Adam
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SRC: Sugden CDMaster, Kenwood KT-5020L, iPod Nano 4G
AMP: Sugden HeadMaster + Sugden AmpMaster
CAN: MEElectronics M11
SPK: Spendor S3/5R + Target stands
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11-26-2009, 10:08 PM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Firmly on the couch.
Posts: 53
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As an owner of the 702, I recommend you consider the Shanling PH-3000. This amp is not discussed often but is an outstanding product. It drives the 702 with more control than my Darkvoice 3322 (no slouch).
I bought mine from Spearit Sound for $349. including shipping.
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11-27-2009, 01:28 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 1,702
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Lots of the recommendations here are good ones - XCan, Heed, KICAS, etc. are all probably good bets. If I had to put my money on an amp for you, though, I'd probably go with the Head-Direct EF5 - the EF1 sounded really terrific with my K701s when I had it, and I'm sure the EF5 with its internal improvements and new power supply will probably drive K701s quite nicely.
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Home Rig: PC or Oppo DV 970 -> stock PS Audio DLIII -> Audioengine A2 or Rethm Gaanam -> Recabled Sony CD3000 or Stax SRM-1/MK-2 -> Stax Lambda normal bias
Travel/work/portable: Laptop/4gb Sansa Fuze -> Klipsch Image X10
On the horizon: Koss ESP-950 (on the way?), Many DACs on the way (Music Streamer Pro, Nuforce uDAC, Focusrite Saffire), Audeze LCD-2 (Soon?)
SOLD: HEADSIX, Decware Zen Head, AKG K141, Atrio M5, DT880, HD650, SA5000, K601, Nuforce Icon Mobile, D5000, MKV, DIYEDEN Great March, Compass, Monica3, SR325, EF-1, SRH840, Go-Vibe USB DAC, SPL Auditor, AKG K701, HD800
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11-27-2009, 01:51 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,672
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Someone needs a headphone amp for K701 in Canada? 
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0202USB | K240 MKII
iPod | ER6 | Triple.Fi
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11-27-2009, 02:23 AM
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Member of the Trade
Audiotailor
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 240
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Hybird or high current tube amplifier is good for K701/K702.
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11-27-2009, 02:23 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Canada, Québec
Posts: 17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonio
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Not so easier.....all KICAS product are out of stuck..... 
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11-27-2009, 02:26 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Canada, Québec
Posts: 17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P4Z
How much is the K701 going to cost you?
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281.85$, on B&H web site(+35$ for shipping in Canada), otherwise 499$.
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11-27-2009, 02:46 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Canada, Québec
Posts: 17
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perhaps i can choose another pair of phone which fit with much more model of amp in regards of my type of music..........Or the K701 it's the way to go for a good headphone.
Did the Grado sr325i can do better ? or the Senn HD600 ?
I said K701 because of the price and also the good reviews about it, But if it cost 2x for the amp.......
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